Acupuncture

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈæ.kjuˌpʌŋk.t͡ʃɜ/

Definitions

1. A traditional Chinese medical practice involving the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body to treat pain and various health conditions
2. A method stemming from ancient Chinese medicine that utilizes fine needles inserted into designated body areas to alleviate pain and address a range of ailments
3. An alternative therapy rooted in Eastern practices where slender needles are placed in specific locations on the body to help relieve discomfort and treat multiple health issues

Etymology: The needle in this word is older than the practice it names. "Acupuncture" was built in Latin from "acus", meaning "needle", and "pūnctūra", meaning "a pricking" or "puncture", which came from "pungere", "to prick". The compound "acūpūnctūra" appears in New Latin, and English borrowed it directly, with the first recorded English use dating to 1684. Those Latin parts were combined by European writers describing a Chinese technique, so the Latin is a translation tool rather than a term from Chinese itself. The English form simply carries the Latin pieces over, which is why the word reads as "acu-" plus "puncture" when split apart.

Synonyms: needle therapy